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AC Milan striker Alvaro Morata has named Spanish teammates Rodri and Dani Carvajal as his picks to win the Ballon d'Or in 2024. The ceremony for the individual accolade awarded by France Football will be held on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Both Rodri and Carvajal are coming off a superb year for club and country. The Manchester City man showed his class as one of the world's best defensive midfielders last season, netting nine goals and 14 assists in 50 club games across competitions.
Rodri also scored the goal that sealed the Premier League title for Manchester City against West Ham in May. Additionally, he won the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup with Manchester City last season.
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The 28-year-old was also instrumental in leading Spain to glory in the UEFA Euro 2024, earning the coveted Player of the Tournament prize after they defeated England 2-1 to win the tournament.
When asked about his favorites to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or, Alvaro Morata said (via @MadridXtra on X):
“Rodri or Carvajal.”
Dani Carvajal, meanwhile, bagged the UEFA Champions League, LaLiga and Supercopa de Espana with Real Madrid, and the UEFA Euro 2024 with La Roja last season. Caravajal and Morata spent two seasons together at Los Blancos and shared the pitch on 51 occasions for the club's senior team.
The Spaniard was one of Real Madrid's unsung heroes, marshaling his troops from the right flank and registering crucial goals and assists whenever required. Carvajal also scored for Los Blancos in the UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund. Real Madrid won the game 2-0, securing their 15th Champions League crown.
When Rodri said that winning the Ballon d'Or would be a 'dream'
Manchester City's Rodri had one of the best seasons of his career in 2023-24 and is one of the favorites to win the Ballon d'Or on October 28. He will become the first Spaniard to win the Ballon d'Or since Luis Suarez in 1960 if he bags the coveted award.
In an interview with ESPN, the Spaniard expressed his delight at simply being in the conversation for the Ballon d'Or trophy. He said (via India Today):
"Yes, of course it would be a dream for me. There are a lot of people who say if Rodri is going to win it, how, for example, did [Andres] Iniesta or Xavi not win it? In part, I agree."
"Just being in the conversation makes me very proud of the work I’ve put in. But imagine for me, to be in the conversation that the people when I walk into the street, they say to me, you going to win the Ballon d’Or, you deserve it, and for me, that means I am already a winner with this," he concluded.
Unfortunately, Rodri's 2024-25 season was cut short when he picked up an injury during Manchester City's 2-2 draw against Arsenal. Later tests revealed that he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the season.
